Stu Johnstone - Auckland

“I’ve been a musician for many decades, a tango dancer since 2013 and a tango DJ since 2019. My playlist library includes the most popular music of the great tango orquestas as well as “hard to find” tracks, many sourced from Buenos Aires DJs during my several visits there.

My playlists are nearly always customised around a central core of tandas of the most highly regarded orquestas of the 1930s and 1940s, comprising tracks chosen for their danceability, sound fidelity and compatibility. To this core I add music of other orquestas, to result in a playlist full of energy, variety, contrasts, and balance across a multitude of dimensions that encourage musical dancing.

Throughout the milonga expect as many instrumental tracks as vocal ones, and a balance across easy-going rhythmic tandas to those with emotional, melodic and rhythmic intensity and sophistication.

As a DJ, I strive to surpass the expectations of milongueros.”

Maida Zanaboni - Auckland

Maida arrived in NZ , from New York City, in December 2001 with her music collection. Listening to and collecting music is her bliss. The dancers joy, when they are dancing to a track that they connect to is her joy. As a dancer herself, her personal taste goes into her choice of music. In all her travels, she always makes it a point to return here with new and interesting tracks that she’s heard from other DJ'saround the world. “My aim is to keep the energy high and leaving the dancers wanting more."

Luis Tabera - Buenos Aires

“I grew up in the city of La Plata, very close to Buenos Aires. I started dancing and listening to tango music when I was 18 years old, and since then I have been very passionate about it. I am learning more and more every day. I took part in many festivals as a dancer, organiser and DJ. I learned from the old milongueros the art of listening and I am passionate about old and classic tango without excluding modern and new tango music. Every milonga has something special like every dance partner. Playing music creates such a great emotion in me that I want to do my best in every event I am invited to. I like to observe the dancers and try to interpret the energy that is generated on the dance floor, by merging the orchestras in a harmonious way without losing the continuity.

I've been in New Zealand since March 2020 and it will be an immense pleasure to play music at this beautiful and long-awaited Spring Tango Festival, for all those who want to dance, embrace, feel, laugh, enjoy and share this beautiful dance called TANGO.”

Craig Barkwith - Wellington

Craig is based in Wellington and had been teaching classes of tango for 10 years, within the school Tango Del Alma with his wife Regine, until retiring from class teaching in 2022.

Craig and Regine have organised and run The Free Fringe Milonga for the past 11 years where Craig’s skills as music provider have been honed.

His tastes in tango music are based mainly in the ‘golden age’, with some tandas easing into the 50’s with some very popular, danceable tunes.